Carnivorous plant inspires self-cleaning smear-proof material

Evidently there is a science God: just two days after writing about the need for smear- and smudge-resistant touchscreens, some researchers from Harvard University have devised a material that is both superhydrophobic and superlipophobic. In other words, it repels water and oil, the bases of almost every commonly-occurring liquid… including the smears on touchscreens caused by our fatty fingers!

The new material, which is called SLIPS (Slippery Liquid-Infused Porous Surface — yes, really), is actually inspired by the leaves of the carnivorous pitcher plant (Nepenthes, pictured above and below). The pitcher plant feeds on insects that fall into its “cup” (and are promptly digested), but these insects have oily, sticky feet (which allows them to happily sit on your bedroom wall). To make insects slip from the rim of the plant into the cup, the rim of the pitcher plant has evolved a surface with microscopic bumps that trap tiny drops of water — and the water repels the insect’s oily feet, sending it tumbling into the planet’s syrupy digestive juices.

The researchers simply took a nano-textured substrate (Teflon in this case), poured on some 3M Fluorinert FC-70 liquid [PDF]… and that seems to be it. The liquid settled into (and was trapped by) the substrate, and thus a SLIPS was formed. The layer of lubricant is so thin (a few nanometers) that the material still feels dry, and Fluorinert is chemically stable and unreactive so it can be used for almost any purpose. The researchers report that SLIPS can repel crude oil and hydrocarbons, water, blood, or… finger grease!

As for applications, SLIPS could significantly enhance spheres as disparate as oil transport (low-friction pipes!), medicine (blood-repellant implements), the home (self-cleaning windows and work surfaces), and computing (grease-proof touchscreens). SLIPS is so slippery that a two-degree incline is enough to cause every kind of liquid to run off, an angle so small that public, in-the-workplace touchscreens could always be set at a slant, and you could “shake to clean” tablets and smartphones.

Furthermore, SLIPS is even self-healing (the trapped liquid layer flows into any cracks within one second), it resists ice adhesion (could be good on vehicles!), and it even works in extremely high pressures up to 680 atmospheres.

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I would worry about getting this stuff in your eye. If it transfers to your fingers it can transfer to your eyes.

http://zhmao.myopenid.com/ Howie

Given its properties, I very much doubt that this substance could stick to your finger.

http://jarinudom.com Jarin Udom

“Read more at Nature (but be warned, it’s scientific)”

ARGGHHH SCIENCE IS NOT SOMETHING TO DISSUADE PEOPLE FROM READING

WARNING: THIS MAY HURT YOUR TINY LITTLE UNEDUCATED PLEBIAN BRAIN

Anonymous

When will this come to market? This is great. Great for monitors, touch screen phones, clothing, no blood or stains.

http://profiles.google.com/steve.nordquist Steve Nordquist

Extra victory for the tar sands Keystone XL thing, pumping tar (at least in summer) from Calgary to Mid-Texas; for road centerlines; for plane wings, not in this form…and definitely not for cellphones unless I take to just carrying one on a tripod like a painter’s easel. And why not, my loafers will be as good as waxed…okay, they’re not gonna be 120cm long. But blood will run right off them, so there’s my zombie flight plan right there.

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